Ajax were ‘completely surprised’ by Manchester United’s £48.5m bid for Lisandro Martinez, with Arsenal fans also ‘concerned’ about the centre-back

Ajax felt ‘it would be totally irresponsible’ not to accept Manchester United’s ‘massive’ offer for Lisandro Martinez, according to Dutch journalists.

It has also been revealed that Arsenal also have ‘concerns’ over signing the new Red Devils defender, doubting his ability to play in the center of defense due to his size.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who arrived from Ajax in the summer, signed his former player Martinez in July for £48.5m from the Eredivisie champions.

The centre-back had a difficult start to life in the Premier League, being caught up in his side’s defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

And according to Dutch De Telegraaf journalist Mike Verweij, Ajax themselves were shocked by the offer they received for their defender who played 37 games for them last season.

“When a €50m bid was placed for Martinez, Ajax wondered: ‘When will another club make such a high bid for a 1.75m centre-back? a Premier League club would be willing to do that,” he said.

“And then the €57m/€67m offer came, they felt it was completely irresponsible not to accept it. Within Ajax, they were completely surprised that such a gigantic bid was placed.

And it wasn’t just Ajax who had reservations about summer signing Man United.

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According AthleticismMartinez’s fellow Premier League admirers Arsenal also had ‘concerns’ about the defender.

It is understood the Gunners have made an offer for him with the intention of playing him at left-back, with his height of 5ft 9in raising concerns over his ability to play at centre-back.

So far, Martinez has started both games as a Premier League centre-back for Man United and was taken off at half-time against Brentford as his side trailed 4-0.